MEP hopeful welcomes government's free childcare centres

Labour MEP candidate Charlon Gouder has welcomed the government's plan to include parents who are still studying in its free childcare services.

Earlier this week, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo announced that the govenrment's electoral promise for free childcare services would be introduced next April and is set to benefit parents who are still enrolled in educational institutions.

Visiting 'Smart Kids' childcare centre in Birgu, the education minister said that Malta currently has among the lowest rate of kids attending these centres, standing at 19%. With these incentives, the government is aiming to double this rate.

As promised in its electoral manifesto, the government will provide free childcare through its state-owned schools while it will also subsidise the private ones while parents who are still studying could also make use of the childcare centres

"The implementation of the free child care services is a step in the right direction as it encourages these parents to continue their studies. It also helps both students and parents alike," Charlon Gouder explained.

The MEP hopeful said only 5% of student parents are currently making use of the childcare services.

"The government's measure to implement the free child care services will encourage students to continue their studies, and moreover, it encourages aspiring parents to start studying," Gouder said.

"Parents who are still studying have a vital economic role in our society, and this measure affords them an equal playing field to facilitate their studies and make the most of their potential," the Labour candidate said.